MEETING OF THE CITY OF CONNELL , WASHINGTON
CONNELL, FRANKLIN COUNTY , WASHINGTON

March 28, 2005

The regular semi-monthly meeting, of the City Council of the City of Connell was called to order by the Mayor at 7:30 pm in the City Hall and was opened with the Pledge of Allegiance.

ROLL CALL

PRESENT:       Mayor Gary Walton, Mayor Pro-Tem Perry Skoglund, Councilmembers Roel Martinez , Andy Sawyer, Monica Pruett, and Ron Boyer.

STAFF:            City Administrator Art Tackett , Police Chief Rick Rochleau, Public Works Director Pat Munyan, Public Works Supervisor Larry Turner, Maintenance Person Sterling Joyner, and Deputy City Clerk-Treasurer Maria ChavezPeńa.

VISITORS:      Jake Hollopeter, Anderson Perry; Jim Riddell, Golf Course; Jeff Arlington; Chris Eskilson; and Kathy Bingham, Graphic.

CORRESPONDENCE

1)                  WA State Liquor Control Board – Liquor license approval for Tapia Bakery.

2)                  WA State Liquor Control Board – Liquor license approval for Round Up Tavern.

CONSENT CALENDAR

Motion: Councilmember Skoglund moved to approve the Consent Calendar as listed:

a)      Minutes of the February 28 Regular meeting,

Councilmember Sawyer seconded motion. Motion carried unanimously.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Mayor Walton made the following addition to the agenda;

            Agenda Item No. 14 a. Spring Clean Up.             

Motion: Councilmember Martinez moved to approve the agenda as amended. Councilmember Sawyer seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

ORDER OF BUSINESS

USDA – WATER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS

Jake Hollopeter from Anderson Perry reported on the following:

Schedules G & H – Everything was cleaned up, the traffic control barriers were removed.  The State agreed to allow the City do the hydroseeding in the fall.  The water lines were completed and pressure tested.  The buildings were essentially complete. Well # 10 was providing water to the farmers.  Well # 9’s control panel would not be delivered until April.  A temporary electrical motor would be installed in Well #9 pending the electrical inspection.  A meeting would be scheduled with the farmer to discuss dual use of the new facilities.

Phase III Reservoir – Project was complete pending electrical inspection, and the reservoir was full of water.

A bill from Total Energy Management was presented to Council.  This was done on a separate contract and was an allowable expenditure for the grant. A bill from Picatti Brothers was also presented.

Motion: Councilmember Pruett moved to approve payment of $39,407.43 to Total Energy Management.  Councilmember Skoglund seconded, motion carried unanimously.

Motion:  Councilmember Martinez moved to approve payment of $55,950.80 to Picatti Brothers. Councilmember Martinez seconded, motion carried unanimously.

            City Administrator suggested having a ribbon cutting ceremony for the project once everything was running smoothly.

KYLE KNIGHT CONTRACT

City Administrator Tackett advised that the portion to approve the contract with Kyle Knight had been eliminated and a new motion needed to be made to clarify approval of the contract.

Motion: Councilmember Skoglund moved to approve the Kyle Knight contract.  Councilmember Pruett seconded motion.

PURCHASE AGREEMENT – COYOTE RIDGE CORRECTIONS CENTER

City Administrator advised that CRCC had put together a sales agreement to purchase their pump station for $1.  Historically the City had not accepted it because there were some concerns regarding its construction. These concerns had been addressed and corrected.  The pump would benefit the City with future expansion.

Consensus of the Council was to proceed with the assumption of the Coyote Ridge pump station and to have a final agreement be brought before the Council for approval.

ACCEPTANCE OF BID FOR DNR PROPERTY

            City Administrator Tackett advised that no bids had been received and suggested that staff contact Anderson Perry for a cost estimate.  The City needed to proceed as landowners were interested in purchasing property.

PROPERTY OFFER

            Moved to Executive Session

SKATE PARK RECOMMENDATION

            City Administrator Tackett advised that there was a significant amount of discussion regarding the Skate Park at the last Park & Rec meeting. The Board recommended that the Skate Park be moved from its current location to a city parcel that was purchased from Bob Koch a number of years ago.  The cost to repair the existing Skate Park would be around $30,000.

Council had some concerns about blocking access to the adjacent properties and requested the site be staked out before the next Council Meeting.  On April 11th Council would meet at the site and then come back to City Hall for the meeting.

STATE GRANT

This item moved to Executive Session.             

SPRING CLEAN-UP

City Administrator Tackett provided a letter from BDI as to what would be provided and advised that the Chamber of Commerce met and that they would like to move the Spring Clean-up to April 1st-April 11th.

Council discussed where to place the dumpsters and decided to place them back at the Fire Station.

Motion: Councilmember Pruett moved to have Spring Clean-up April 1st through April 10th.  Councilmember Martinez seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

PAYMENT OF BILLS            

Motion: Councilmember Skoglund moved to pay the vouchers and payroll in the amount of $199,116.17. Councilmember Pruett seconded.  Motion carried unanimously.

COMMITTEE / DEPARTMENT REPORTS

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT – Public Works Director Pat Munyan

1)                  Repaired a broken water line on Davis Street .

2)                  Playground equipment installed at Striker Park .

3)                  Clark Street Park fence was moved, the swings set would be moved to Pioneer Park .

4)                  Would be working on the fence at Well 8 next week.

 

POLICE DEPARTMENT - Police Chief Rick Rochleau

1)                  Working on hiring process and was ready to proceed.  Had one person on the list for Civil Service, applied for academy to begin in May.

2)                  Would be doing rifle training during the week.  

 

MAYOR’S REPORT – Mayor Garland Walton

            Received information for Councilmembers and City Administrator to participate in ‘Walk for Health’ sponsored by Group Health.

MEETING RECESSED  

Mayor Walton recessed the regular meeting at 8:20 for approximately 25 minutes to go into Executive session to discuss real estate.

MEETING RECONVENED  

The regular meeting was called back to order and the following was heard before the Council;

 

STATE GRANT 

            A decision would be made at the April 11th meeting.

DEPARTMENT REPORTS

ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT – City Administrator Art Tackett

1)                  Need to watch 60/50 bill.

2)                  Doing okay with IAC Grant.

3)                  BDI in favor of Energy Park .

4)                  Received information that their was money in the Senate budget for DOC.

 MAYOR’S REPORT – Mayor Garland Walton

1)         Would be reviewing the Chief of Police contract and would be bringing to Council for approval at the next regular council meeting.

MEETING ADJOURNED

There being no further business to be heard before the City Council, Mayor Walton adjourned the meeting at 9:20 pm .